Recent Recipients

 Xenia Community Schools Foundation 2017-2018 Grant Awards Chart

 

Title and Applicant  Project Summary Number of Students to be Served Grant Award
  Xenia High School    
Muse MachineJennifer Burgess  Grant funds will support three in-school interactive performances, thus providing arts learning to connect students and teachers to artistic experiences. Included will be dance, theater, music companies and independent artists. 750 students at XHS $1,800.00
Science is Fun! – Xenia Chemistry ClubBill Richey, Chemistry Teacher  Funds will be used for a program designed to train 150 XHS chemistry students to teach and present 21 different “hands-on” experiments at the elementary level. 150 XHS Chemistry students1900 Elementary students  $1,400.00 
  Warner Middle School    
Introduction to Investing Using the Stock Market GameRose Prater, Math Teacher Grant funds are for entry fees for teams of 8 @ $20.00 per team for a new elective course. The goal is to cover the fundamentals of investing and to have students compete. 48 Students $320.00
WEB (Where Everybody Belongs)Dana McClain and Karen Nolen, WEB Coordinators This is a middle school orientation and transition program for 6th graders. 8th grade mentors will be trained to be WEB leaders and role models. 5 WEB events will be planned. 325 students $2,500.00
Project LinusDana McClain, 7th grade teacher This grant provides funds for supplies for a service project that is part of an elective course titled “Student Leadership”. Approximately 30 7th grade students $500.00
Lego Robotics (First Lego League FLL)Travis Klosterman This is an after school program focused on enriching science and mathematics. It is a robotics program 8-12 students $225.00 
Accessible Arts for AllLinda Comer  Students are in self-contained resource classrooms. This project will provide a way for them to achieve individualized success. 24 Students $1,290.00 
Muse MachineTed Holop, Jamie Simpson, Josh Newport Funds will be used for in school performances. There will be one performance for each grade level. 900 6th, 7th and 8th grade students $1,900.00
Dissections – Introduction to Animal BiologyLisa Gerrard This is a 9 week elective course. Resources for supplies are for supplies including tools, gloves and specimens. 160 7th Grade Students  $775.00  
Elementary Schools  
Sharing is Caring Service ClubKelly StricklandMcKinley This is a service project club and will promote good citizenship and compassion to people in need. 25-30 5th grade students $500.00
Pioneer ScienceGina BaumgartnerShawnee Students will participate in a hands-on program on Ohio wildlife. This aligns with Common Core Life Science Third Grade. 90 3rd grade science students  $245.00
Science Outside the BoxCarla Skaggs and Keith McKinleyCox Elementary This will be a STEM focused activities project with two grade levels participating together. STEM activities will correlate with state standards. 48 kindergarten and 3rd grade students $536.34
First Lego League at McKinleyTim CareyMcKinley This will be the third year for this after school league. It is growing and additional resources are needed. 20-25 students in 3rd, 4th, 5th grade $250.00  
Super Science-LEGO EducationKyle GambillArrowood After school enrichment- 16 students will participate in this after school STEM enrichment program. 16 students in 3rd, 4th, 5th grade $250.00  
Homework Reading BagsKimberly WrightMcKinley Students will be loaned books to go home, be read with family and returned as a way to provide a daily, personalized reading experience. Up to 30 kindergarten students $224.00
A Year of ScienceAmanda FraumanTecumseh Materials to complete science activities and experiments that correlate with Science State Standards 60 1st grade students $635.30
Elementary S.T.E.A.M. Day/ Science OlympiadDonna Shaw5 Elementary Schools A one day event will be held at each elementary building. Xenia High School Bio Tech Students will assist. The grant is for supplies. 360 5th grade students and 75 high school students $2,109.60
  Library Grant Applications  
Creating Lifelong  Readers and LearnersBarbara Moorman, Library Assistant WMS Funds will be used to purchase newer updated collections of different genre books 900 – 6th, 7th and 8th grade students $1,500.00
Gearing Up for Graphic NovelsKay Gerspacher, District Librarian Funds will be used to purchase graphic novels including some new series and completion of sets of existing series 1200 elementary students $2,500.00

 

February 21, 2017

XCSF Helps Students Pedal to Academic Improvement

A group of third grade students at Arrowood Elementary are experiencing notable academic improvement as they pedal their way through the school day. The Xenia Community Schools Foundation provided grant funds for the “Moving Minds” initiative. Funds were awarded to enable the purchase of stationary “pedal cycles” for 65 third graders. The students use the equipment during instructional time. The students reportedly seem more engaged in classroom instruction when using the pedal cycles, and their performance on several tests has improved since the cycles were introduced.

The teacher who applied for the grant shared “that based on average growth data from the winter MAP test, students in the self-contained classroom with pedal cycles, displayed an overall higher average growth, than the students in the other self-contained classroom without pedal cycles.”

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is dedicated to enriching the academic pursuits of all students, faculty and staff within the Xenia Community Schools. The Foundation has provided grants for teacher and classroom enrichment programs and scholarships, from the investment income of the Foundation and donations, for the past thirty years. The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For additional information, visit xcsfoundation.com.

 

XCSF Supports S.T.E.A.M Day Science Olympiads

January 27, 2017

XCS fifth graders and Xenia High School Bio Tech students are participating together in a series of five “Elementary S.T.E.A.M. Day/Science Olympiad” events. These fun filled and instructive day long sessions have been made available through the efforts of the Xenia Community Schools Gifted Staff and financial support from the Xenia Community Schools Foundation.

STEM Challenges comprise the competitive part of the experience. The challenges include: Barge Building, Egg Drop, Mystery Architecture, Straw Tower and Mystery Boxes. Students engage in these hands on activities with a partner and experience engineering first hand, using prior knowledge of scientific principles and problem solving skills. In addition, there are hands-on sessions including DNA Extraction from Strawberries and Candy, Micro Pipette, Gel Electrophoresis and Making Cheese in a Test Tube.

The Bio Tech students assist the fifth grade students and provide information and advice in an interactive environment. Fifth grade students compete for prize packages and medals through the course of the day.

The program includes a full day session at each elementary school. It incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Art. The students complete tasks involving collaboration, communication, creativity, problem solving, innovation and critical thinking. Hopefully, the experience will lead to exploration into career options and plant a seed for students to realize their potential, think creatively and work collaboratively.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is dedicated to enriching the academic pursuits of all students, faculty and staff within the Xenia Community Schools. The Foundation has provided grants for teacher and classroom enrichment programs and scholarships, from the investment income of the Foundation and donations, for the past thirty years. The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For additional information, visit xcsfoundation.com.

January 2016

Xenia Community Schools Foundation Supports Stock Market Course Competition

A group of seventh grade students at Warner Middle School signed up for a new elective course last semester. These 24 students spent 8 weeks learning the fundamentals of investing in the stock market. They learned about companies, corporations, ticker symbols, stocks, bonds, growth, equity, Initial public offering of stocks, common stocks, and how to interpret growth and investment charts. The class then applied the newly learned knowledge, as they competed for 10 weeks in an online Stock Market Competition by investing $100,000 for their group.

The XCSF provided funds for the team entrance fees, paid to the University of Cincinnati, for the competition. The class performed well in the online competition. Out of the 8 participating groups, all finished in the top 20% out of 553 Ohio school groups participating, competing against many high school teams. The course is being taught offered again during the second semester.

 August 2015

“Where Everybody Belongs” New to Warner Middle School

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation has awarded funding for a new program designed as an orientation and transition program for sixth and seventh graders at Warner Middle School.

A group of eighth grade students will receive training to become “WEB” Leaders. These students will then act as role models and mentors in assisting sixth and seventh graders to make a successful transition to middle school. This program is designed to both enhance character development and to create an anti-bullying environment at Warner, while increasing student achievement. There will be five WEB sponsored events during the school year in addition to the ongoing daily program activities.

This grant, through the XCSF, originated from the Edwin B. Cox Family Legacy Grant Funds. The focus of grants funded with this gift must be “development of loyal citizenship and/or the building of character through classroom excellence”.  Edwin B. Cox served as superintendent of Xenia Community Schools for 34 years. He was inducted into the Hall of Honor in 2009. His memory is honored at Cox Elementary School.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation Funds “Second Step” Program

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation recently approved grant funds for guidance program, which will target kindergarten and first grade students at Cox and McKinley Elementary Schools. Lessons are designed promote social skills, conflict management, empathy and problem solving. The program will be tied into the existing Positive Behavioral Support initiative. Research indicates that children who learn and use these skills do better in school academically. By learning these skills at a young age, children will be equipped with the emotional skills to manage conflicts effectively as they age.

Each grade level will have its own kit with guided lessons and materials to use in the classroom. In addition to lessons, each kit provides role plays and puppets. The kits can be used for an entire year and re-used for years to come.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation Funds Math Software

At least 120 students at Xenia High School are benefitting from test and worksheet generation software purchased with funds from the Xenia Community Schools Foundation Grant Program.  The software target groups include students taking Algebra I, Algebra II and Honors Math classes.

The software provides a way for the teacher to differentiate instruction so that every student gains knowledge and is successful in their course. Worksheets and tests are generated through the software for all math levels.  The impact of the software on student progress will include a review of test results as the year progresses.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation awards grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. Projects are geared towards enriching student learning. Some applications represent district-wide initiatives. All the grants for Xenia Community School students and teachers are beyond what regular school funding can provide.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation is an Ohio non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation. Gifts made to the XCSF qualify as tax deductible charitable contributions. The Board of Directors includes both local residents and staff of the Xenia Community Schools District. The XCSF’s purpose, among others, is to seek funding to be used for the benefit of faculty and students by embracing or going beyond the usual. For information about the XCSF, please visit the website (xcsfoundation.com), check us out on Facebook (Xenia Community Schools Foundation) or call the Chamber at 937-372-3591.

XCS Foundation Helps with “Promoting Literacy through Leadership”

Warner Middle School is offering some new elective courses this year. Among them is “Student Leadership”. The curriculum is focused on promoting literacy through leadership. Role models can often demonstrate behaviors and qualities students can strive to emulate. Students can incorporate the behaviors into their own sense of self, providing them with increased self-confidence and attainable goals. Hopefully, this will lead to them making more productive choices.

Seventh and eighth graders taking this course will learn about the characteristics of true leaders by researching a role model of choice and developing a presentation focused on that person’s contribution to the world.  Students will identify the qualities of true leaders and improve their research and presentation skills. The Xenia Community Schools Foundation provided the funds to purchase the non-fiction books that the students will read as part of the project.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation awards grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. Projects are geared towards enriching student learning. Some applications represent district-wide initiatives. All the grants for Xenia Community School students and teachers are beyond what regular school funding can provide.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation is an Ohio non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation. Gifts made to the XCSF qualify as tax deductible charitable contributions. The Board of Directors includes both local residents and staff of the Xenia Community Schools District. The XCSF’s purpose, among others, is to seek funding to be used for the benefit of faculty and students by embracing or going beyond the usual. For information about the XCSF, please visit the website (xcsfoundation.com), check us out on Facebook (Xenia Community Schools Foundation) or call the Chamber at 937-372-3591.

“Daily Five” Grant Funds Used for Kindergarten Reading Program

The XCSF Board of Directors recently approved funds to purchase CD players and books with CD’s for kindergarten students at McKinley Elementary. These resources are being used as part of a five prong instructional approach to improve skills in reading and writing.

Teacher Kimberly Wright reports: “As a result of the Xenia Community Schools Foundation grant, kindergartners have benefited from having their own personal CD player and audio book(s) allowing them to accelerate their learning experience by immersing them in literature.  The availability of these resources has resulted in improved time management, thus allowing for more learning opportunities.”

“Daily Five” is an instructional approach based on five daily activities students undertake. This approach helps to immerse students in reading and writing activities by exposing them to a wide variety of resources and approaches.

“Project Linus” Awarded Grant by Xenia Community Schools Foundation

Xenia Community Schools is offering more elective course opportunities for Warner Middle School students. The Xenia Community Schools Foundation awarded a $550.00 grant for the new Student Leadership course.

The students in this course will work in cooperative teams on the project. They will design, create and donate double-sided fleece tie blankets. The completed blankets, along with age appropriate books, will be donated to baby, toddler and teenage children in need. The donations will be channeled through a variety of charitable organizations. The project will coordinate with Right to Read Week. The teams will research and select appropriate books and create a presentation for the donation event.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is providing the funds for the materials needed for the blankets and the purchase of books. This grant is representative of the Foundation’s commitment to work collaboratively with Xenia Community Schools to enhance educational resources.

XCSF Supports Project-Based Learning at Warner Middle School

Xenia Community Schools is offering more elective course opportunities for Warner Middle School students. The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is providing support for the project-based learning course, “Designing Your Theme Park”.

The District is offering two interdisciplinary project courses each semester called “Project in Action”. Teams of students will design and create their “dream” theme park using a manual and “Roller Coaster Tycoon 2” software. The project will encourage teamwork and dedication, while enhancing technology skills. Each group will make a formal presentation of the completed project to staff, and a winner will be selected.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is providing the funds for the materials needed to build the theme parks. The Foundation works collaboratively with Xenia Community Schools to provide funds for books, materials and software.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation awards grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. Projects are geared towards enriching student learning. Some applications represent district-wide initiatives. All the grants for Xenia Community School students and teachers are beyond what regular school funding can provide.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation is an Ohio non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation. Gifts made to the XCSF qualify as tax deductible charitable contributions. The Board of Directors includes both local residents and staff of the Xenia Community Schools District. The XCSF’s purpose, among others, is to seek funding to be used for the benefit of faculty and students by embracing or going beyond the usual. For information about the XCSF, please visit the website (xcsfoundation.com), check us out on Facebook (Xenia Community Schools Foundation) or call the Chamber at 937-372-3591.

 

2000 Xenia Students to Benefit from Accelerated Reading Program

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation proudly announces that they are providing funding support for this effective computer-based reading program for the second consecutive year. The Foundation’s Board of Directors approved a $9,814.96 grant request from Xenia Community Schools last month. These funds, combined with a private contribution of $2,000.00 to the Foundation that was earmarked for use by Cox Elementary, will fund Accelerated Reader computer licenses for over 2000 students in the five elementary schools.

The Accelerated Reader is a computer managed reading program. This program is for all readers and helps to monitor the comprehension of independently read books. The children choose an Accelerated Reader book. After they read it, they take a short multiple choice quiz on the computer. The computer then scores the test. Students receive immediate feedback on performance and can earn small rewards that are provided by the PTOs in each building. The program encourages students to progress individually, while fostering a love for reading. Each building keeps a record of overall use of the program and the progress of the students.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation Funds “Taking STEM to the Elementary Student”

This ever popular and valuable program enables XHS Chemistry Club members to demonstrate that science can be fun, while encouraging excitement about science at the elementary school level.

Chemistry teacher Bill Richey applied for the $1,200.00 grant. Funds provided by the Xenia Community Schools Foundation pay for resources to train and prepare approximately 110 XHS Chemistry Club students. Those students then present over 21 hands-on experiments to the students at Xenia’s five elementary schools. Advanced chemistry students design and produce a Chemistry Demonstration show that is presented at an assembly for each building. This is followed by individual classroom presentations. Each classroom lesson is aligned with the standards for that grade.

Different themes over the years have included “The Chemistry of Special Effects in the Movies”, in addition to traditional chemistry demonstrations. This program benefits the high school chemistry students to understand some basic chemistry principles and, at times, encourage interest in the field of education. The elementary students often view the high school chemistry students as role models.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation has previously funded this program. For the 2013-2014 school year, the topic focused on the question of was what would happen if Phineas and Ferb met Einstein. The program reaches almost 1600 elementary students annually.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation Grants Enhance Library Resources in Xenia Community Schools

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation (XCSF) recently announced the first round of classroom and library grants, totaling over $9000.00, for the 2014-2015 school year.

This year the Foundation is supporting several library grants.  The largest request was submitted by Xenia Community Schools District Librarian Kay Gerspacher. The application identified the need for funds for biography book purchases. The XCSF has funded similar genre focused book grants in prior years. The Foundation recognizes that need for new reading resources is an integral part of the ongoing educational process.

The “Reading for Life” grant will provide for the purchase of biographies to be housed in the libraries at the five elementary buildings (Arrowood, Cox, McKinley, Shawnee and Tecumseh) and the two middle schools (Central and Warner). Approximately 2000 3rd to 8th graders will be able to use these new resources for research, reports and reading. The Foundation is providing $4,000.00 to purchase 30-40 books per building.

The Xenia Community Foundation funded two library grant requests submitted by Kay Gerspacher for the 2013-2014 school year. A total of $4,000.00 was allocated for the “Nonfiction Reader Grant” and “Top Shelf Fiction Grant”. Elementary building libraries received books that had a science or history theme consistent with the Common Core. Middle schools benefited from the purchase of current full length novels written in the past couple of years. These books provided interesting and appealing choices that students were eager to read.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation awards grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. Projects are geared towards enriching student learning. Some applications represent district-wide initiatives. All the grants for Xenia Community School students and teachers are beyond what regular school funding can provide.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation (XCSF) recently awarded $9,404.00 in grants to the Xenia Community Schools.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation awards represent grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. Any Xenia Community Schools’ staff or community member can apply to the Foundation to fund special projects in classrooms. Projects are geared towards enriching student learning. Some applications represent district-wide initiatives. All the grants for Xenia Community School students and teachers are beyond what regular school funding can provide.

This group of awards includes funds for purchases of library books, software, Chemistry Club supplies, and STEM-related course materials. The Foundation is also honoring a grant request titled: “Enhancing Access to Arts Programing”. The Foundation is funding the purchase of five new pianos. These will be housed at Shawnee, Cox, McKinley, and Tecumseh Elementary Schools and Xenia High School. The purchase of these pianos will “enable Xenia Schools to promote a school environment rich in culture and to promote an appreciation of music and the arts for our students.”, per XCS Board President, Chery Marcus, who submitted the application on behalf of the District.

The grants awarded by the Foundation would not be possible without the help of the community. The XCSF sponsors the annual Hall of Honor Dinner and Induction Ceremony and, recently, hosted a fundraising event at Caesars Creek Vineyard. Donations from such events help support the mission of the Foundation in providing support to Xenia Community Schools. The Foundation sincerely thanks all who have contributed to help our children in the Xenia community” says XCSF President Brian Liming.

The Foundation has provided over $125,000 over the last 6 years to benefit education in Xenia.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation, formerly known as the Xenia Educational Endowment Fund, is an Ohio non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation. Gifts made to the XCSF qualify as tax deductible charitable contributions. The Board of Directors includes both local residents and staff of the Xenia Community Schools District. The XCSF’s purpose, among others, is to seek funding to be used for the benefit of faculty and students by embracing or going beyond the usual. For information about the XCSF, please visit the website (xcsfoundation.com), check us out on Facebook (Xenia Community Schools Foundation) or call the Chamber at 937-372-3591.

 

Xenia Community Foundation 2013-2014 Grants  (Click Here For PowerPoint Update)

Xenia Community Foundation 2013-2014 GrantsPress Release-June 2013

Xenia Community Schools Foundation Announces Awards In Excess of $20,000.00

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation (XCSF) recently awarded $20,176.28 in grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. The Foundation had already announced $11,000.00 in scholarships to Xenia High School seniors.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation (XCSF) awards totaling $20,176.28 represent grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. Any Xenia Community School faculty member can apply to the Foundation to fund special projects in their classrooms geared towards enriching student learning.

All the grants for Xenia Community School students and teachers are beyond what regular school funding can provide.

“Our funding of over $31,000 in scholarships and grants this year sets another record for the Foundation. Without the help of our community this would not be possible. The Foundation sincerely thanks all who have contributed to help our children in the Xenia community” says XCSF President Brian Liming.

The Foundation has provided over $116,000 over the last 5 years to benefit education in Xenia.

This year’s winners are:

· Xenia Community Schools, ALL elementary schools, for “Renaissance Learning – Accelerated Reader Enterprise”

· Katie Cronin, Arrowood Elementary School, for “Independent Learning Centers”

· Jill Miller, Arrowood Elementary School, for the “5th Grade Book Club”

· Jennifer Chapman, Central Middle School, for “Leveled Literacy in the Middle”

· Kathy Patterson, Central Middle School, for “Bright Buccaneer Club”

· Bill Richey, Xenia High School, for the “Xenia High School Chemistry Club”

· Kay Gerspacher, ALL elementary schools, for “Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School”

· Kay Gerspacher, ALL students in grades 6, 7, and 8, for “Raise a Reader”

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation, formerly known as the Xenia Educational Endowment Fund, is an Ohio non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation. Gifts made to the XCSF are tax deductible as charitable contributions on one’s tax return. The XCSF is run by a Board of Directors made up of residents and staff of the Xenia Community Schools District. The XCSF’s purpose, among others, is to seek funding to be used for the benefit of faculty and students by embracing or going beyond the usual. For information about the XCSF, please call the Chamber at 937-372-3591.